Czech lender Komercni Banka AS (BAAKOMB.PR) expects the ongoing Czech economic contraction to continue through the end of the year and that it will weigh on earnings, the bank's finance chief said Wednesday.

South Korea's top three automakers Wednesday posted a sharp drop in their month-on-month sales in July, especially exports, as strikes by their workers led to a shortfall in production, leaving the companies with fewer cars to sell in their key overseas markets.

Crown Targets Executives, Tourists With A$568 Million Perth Hotel

Casino operator Crown Ltd. (CWN.AU) placed a 568 million Australian dollars (US$596 million) bet Wednesday on a new luxury hotel in Perth to serve an expected influx of tourists and executives to Australia's resource-rich west, intensifying competition between Australia and other regional gaming

Euro-zone July Manufacturing PMI Hits 37-month Low

Manufacturing activity in the 17-nation euro zone contracted at its fastest pace in more than three years in July, according to a survey of purchasing managers released Wednesday.

BSkyB Buys Back 260,000 Shares

BSkyB (BSY.LN) said Wednesday it purchased 260,000 shares on July 31 of GBP0.50 for cancellation.

AstraZeneca Buys Back 444,915 Shares for Cancellation

AstraZeneca PLC (AZN.LN) Wednesday said it purchased 444,915 ordinary shares, for cancellation, at a price of 2994 pence per share on July 31.

ArcelorMittal SA, Kumba Negotiating Iron Ore Price Pact Extension

ArcelorMittal South Africa (ACL.JO) and Kumba Iron Ore Ltd. (KIO.JO), South Africa's largest iron-ore producer, both said Wednesday that they are negotiating an extension to an interim pricing agreement over the sale of iron ore, following a dispute over the Sishen mine.

USAA rated best credit card issuer based on weighted analysis of complaint database

As promised, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published its live database of credit card complaints registered with the bureau's toll free hotline and website.

Europe Stocks Edge Up As Fed Decision Looms

European stocks moved cautiously higher Wednesday, as markets awaited the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary-meeting and mulled China factory data that showed some weak spots.